EC's Ringer, Maxwell & Batesville's Pohlman, Weiler Earn EIAC MVP Honors

Fifty-two players were named to the All-Conference Team.

Josh Ringer, Dylan Maxwell, Gage Pohlman, and Bobby Weiler are the 2023 EIAC Football MVPs. Photos by Travis Thayer, Eagle Country 99.3.

(St. Leon, Ind.) - There was a lot of talent on display in the Eastern Indiana Athletic Conference this fall. 

Fifty-two of those talented players were on the 2023 EIAC Football All-Conference Team that was released on Wednesday. 

East Central (15-0) placed 12 players on the All-Conference Team after winning the Legends Division and the Class 4A State Championship. Among their All-Conference selections are Legends Division Offensive MVP Josh Ringer and Defensive MVP Dylan Maxwell. 

Ringer was the easy choice for Offensive MVP after he rushed for an EC single season record of 2,880 yards and 55 touchdowns. Maxwell earned MVP honors by totaling 86 tackles, 10 tackles for a loss, two interceptions, and two fumble recoveries. 

• QB Cole Burton: 72-106 (68%), 1,319 yards, 21 TD, 2 INT
  WR Ryan Brotherton: 36 carries, 440 yards, 6 TD; 35 receptions, 757 yards, 13 TD
  LB Brayden Rouse: 103 tackles, 5.0 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, 2 INT
  DE Eli Ertel: 56 tackles, 4.0 tackles for loss, 2.0 sacks, 2 fumble recoveries
  LB Connor Kuhn: 70 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, sack, INT, fumble recovery
  S Carson Pieczonka: 52 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, sack, 5 INT, 13 pass breakups
  CB Chase Bellman: 36 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, 2 INT
  OL Noah Schneider, RJ Seig: Paved way for 4,847 rushing yards, and 1,405 passing yards
  K Nathan McFee: 87-91 PAT, 2-4 FG

Lawrenceburg (8-3, 2-1 in Legends Division) placed seven on the All-Conference Team, including 1,000-yard rusher Teagan Bennett, and leading tackler Zavyn Slayback (74 tackles). Hayden Saylor earned an All-Conference selection with 698 yards receiving and 15 total touchdowns. Despite playing only six games due to injury, junior linebacker Noah Knigga was third on the team in tackles (51) and first in tackles for loss (11.0). 

In the Leaders Division, Batesville won the conference with a 3-0 record. The Bulldogs went on to win a Class 3A sectional title behind Leaders Division Off. MVP Gage Pohlman and Def. MVP Bobby Weiler. 

Pohlman ran for 1,583 yards and 16 touchdowns. He also caught 15 passes for 379 yards and five scores. Defensively, Weiler lived in opponents' backfields with a team-high 13.5 tackles for a loss and three sacks.

In total, Batesville placed 11 on the All-Conference Team. 

• WR Cade Kaiser: 50 receptions, 799 yards, 17 TD
  QB Will Jaisle: 112-186 (60%), 1,840 yards, 29 TD, 7 INT
  WR/DB Alex Krekeler: 55 receptions, 218 yards, 2 TD; 21 tackles, 9 INT
  LB Carter Bohman: 75 tackles, 3 TFL, 4 fumble recoveries
  LB Deacon Hamilton: 52 tackles, 4.5 TFL, sack, INT
  OL/DL Max Amberger: 38 tackles, 
  OL Zach Davidson, Collin Wells, Carson Meyer: Paved way for 2,379 rushing yards and 1,843 passing yards

South Dearborn (5-5, 2-1 in Leaders Division) placed eight on the All-Conference Team including senior QB Adam Kunkel and leading tacklers Brayden Johnson and Brady Ballart. 

Kunkel will leave SD with several QB records. He capped off a great high school career with 1,835 passing yards and 22 touchdowns. Two of his top targets, Oli Babcock and Ryan Richard, made All-Conference by combining for 76 receptions, 871 yards and 11 touchdowns. The aforementioned Johnson and Ballart led the team in tackles for a second consecutive season with 68 and 64, respectively. 

East Central's Jake Meiners and Batesville's Evan Ulery are the EIAC Coaches of the Year. 

See the full 2023 EIAC Football All-Conference Team below. 

Legends Division

East Central (3-0) – Josh Ringer (Off. MVP), Dylan Maxwell (Def. MVP), Cole Burton, Ryan Brotherton, Noah Schneider, RJ Seig, Eli Ertel, Brayden Rouse, Connor Kuhn, Carson Pieczonka, Chase Bellman, Nathan McFee

Lawrenceburg (2-1) – Hayden Saylor, Joey Cavanaugh, Logan Fehr, Teagan Bennett, Jake Gourley, Noah Knigga, Zavyn Slayback

Franklin County (1-2) – Jack Dirkhising, Ben Becker, Jack Seals, Carter Dozier

Connersville (0-3) – Draiden Perez, Elijah Murray, Micah Buchanan

Coach of the Year: Jake Meiners (East Central)

Leaders Division

Batesville (3-0) – Gage Pohlman (Off. MVP), Bobby Weiler (Def. MVP), Cade Kaiser, Zach Davidson, Collin Wells, Carson Meyer, Max Amberger, Deacon Hamilton, Carter Bohman, Alex Krekeler, Will Jaisle

South Dearborn (2-1) – Adam Kunkel, Ryan Richard, Oli Babcock, Blake Pruss, Mahlon Bressert, Caden Thompson, Brayden Johnson, Brady Ballart

Rushville (1-2) – Harper Miller, Braydon Wilson, Sam Pavey, Ralph Eakins, Nick Jarman

Greensburg (0-3) – Camden Loudin, Jacoby Miller

Coach of the Year: Evan Ulery (Batesville)